While everyone else focuses on his wacky behaviour and beliefs, Tom Cruise has been busy getting on with the important business of being dad to one-year-old daughter, Suri.

A new report credits the actor’s love for his tot for helping him get through an extended ‘tough patch’ in his life.

"She is Daddy's little girl, and he doesn't know what he'd do without her," says a friend of the Cruises.

"It has been the toughest patch Tom has had since his divorce from Nicole Kidman, Katie [Holmes] has been there for him, of course, and she's his rock, but when you see him with Suri, you just melt. He adores her."

Tom’s devotion to little Suri was none more evident than when the pair enjoyed some daddy-daughter time at an L.A. playground on March 25.

"I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw them," an eyewitness tells OK!.

"Suri was dressed up in this beautiful outfit and was down in the sand playing just like any other kid. Tom was letting her do her own thing, following her around just like any dad would.

"He briefly spoke with a few of the other parents, shook a few hands and exchanged smiles. It looked like he wanted to give her a little playground outing."

At one point when Suri started to cry, an onlooker describes how, "Tom scooped her up, cuddled her and gave her several kisses on her cheek. It was very loving. Tom obviously cares deeply about that little girl."

Tom will have even more reason to spoil his daughter when she turns 2 on April 18.

Peep out some more celebrity daddies on parenting duty in our Daddy Day Care gallery.